Dirt Nap Squad

Ghost Legion.

Friends and EVE Community, I wish to announce my candidacy for the 9th Council of Stellar Management.

I am immensely grateful to my fellow EVE players and to CCP for this wonderful shared experience we call EVE, and humbly request that you, the players of EVE, support me as your voice before CCP. I look forward to championing your interests and keeping EVE as wonderful and rewarding as it has been for me for most of the last decade.

I have not made this decision lightly or without thought to what it may mean to me personally. I am fully cognizant of the immense amount of work that comes with a position on the CSM. My close personal friend and current CSM Chairman Trebor Daehdoow has made it all too clear how much work is expected. CSM is a volunteer position that requires much effort and provides little tangible reward. I want to serve because of my love of the game and what the broader EVE community means to me personally.

My name is Bradley King. I live and work in a college town in Michigan, and have a Bachelors of Science in Recreation Adminstration and Management. I earned that degree after serving 6 years in the Marine Corps. I presently work at Ferris State University in Michigan as a Grounds Chemical Specialist and Facility Manager. I am also currently a paid Chief Steward for my local Union, and have represented my fellow non-tenured employees for many years as a contract negotiator. In addition to these responsibilities, I coach a variety of sports including Wrestling, Rugby, Baseball and Football (American Soccer). I have been involved in online gaming since the mid-90's, including such titles as Combat Flight Simulator, Rogue Spear, Raven Shield, Ghost Recon, CSS, PS1 AOE, Warcraft, Starcraft and many more. As an avid PC gamer, I put a great deal of work and effort into the Punkbuster community back in the day (I despise cheaters).

My passion for EVE, commitment to achieving goals, and energy are just some of the positive personal virtues I can bring to the table as a member of the CSM. In particular, I have decades of experience as a Labor negotiator. Often in course of these duties, I have had to reach equitable bargains with opposing parties with different needs. This is very much the case in EVE, as the needs of the community are often in conflict with CCP's corporate goals. Over the years, I have developed many close personal relationships with CCP's management and employees, and I hope to be able to use my influence for the good of the game of EVE and the community as a whole. My only goal is to help EVE to grow and thrive.

As a member of an enduring and successful non-bloc organization, I hope that my membership on the CSM will alleviate some of the fears that the community has in regards to Null-Sec being overly represented. My alliance has no fixed home and we strive to participate in all of the aspects of EVE. I have learned from some of the best in game what works and doesn't work in New Eden across the whole spectrum of play styles. These people, both inside and outside of my alliance, are some of the very best in the game at what they do. I do not seek to maintain the status quo, but to enhance the freedom, vitality, and dynamism that makes EVE unique.

My real-life talents in Labor organization, sports coaching, and leadership will bring a unique and useful package of skills to the CSM. My in-game experience as a non-bloc, non-Sov-holding, totally independent alliance leader gives me a perspective that is unbiased by personal ambition or need to protect personal in-game interests. I have no need to protect my alliance's position within the metagame. I do not seek personal reward. I only want what is best for the game and the community as a whole, because I truly love what this game is and means to all of us.

Ice Fire Warriors

Wild Geese.

DNSBlack absolutely deserves high placement on your ballots this year. I've had the pleasure of getting to know Brad well over the last couple of years, and witnessed his enthusiasm, work effort, and dedication firsthand. He is driven by a passion for this game and this community that goes largely unmatched, a passion you can hear in his voice when he speaks about the issues that are most dear to him.

DNSBlack is also a fighter to the core, a man with a spine that won't give up easily when there's a problem on the table in need of resolution. He is unafraid to stand up to CCP (or members of the community if needed) in defense of the game that he knows and loves. He is a talented debater and public speaker, and knows how to command an audience. I vividly remember the open letter he wrote to CSM7 last year on the subject of power projection, that resonated so well with the frustration many players have felt about the direction nullsec play continues to drift.

Nothing puts a smile across my face more than imagining DNSBlack in a CCP conference room, giving the devs a piece of his mind, and reminding everyone in the room why we're all here and why we all play this game. I urge you all to elect DNSBlack to CSM9, as I have no doubt he'll do an excellent job of keeping CCP focused on the issues that matter as we move into the next decade.

I do have to say, as a fellow player, I have seen DNSBlack write and speak about disappointments he had regarding CCP decisions or even game mechanics, and although he expressed his dislikes he has always been loyal to the game and his community.

Wraithguard.

The Wraithguard.

I support DNSBlack for CSM, I joined DNS Alliance for a reason. He understands how my corp Wraithguard is about the member and the members time to have fun in the game. He is very very passionate about the game and how it affects peoples game time.

He quite possibly be the one of the only people running for CSM that understands how important the real life aspect of the game is. He is here for the kill and enjoyment of the game. He wants to log in do his stuff and enjoy his time and not deal will silly semantics.

He will voice his opinion to CCP if they are waiting valuable time or if they are working towards the right direction.

He has my full support for CSM and if you have any questions or need comments contact me.

Instead of my opinion, I urge you to look at the people who have already endorsed BLACK's election thread. Look at their EVE resumes and what they have accomplished, especially the former and current CSM & CPM members, who put their stamp of approval on BLACK. These people, all movers and shakers in EVE who understand the challenges of the position, wholeheartedly endorse BLACK for the job.

BLACK has been my friend for years now. I can tell you I personally know in my heart that BLACK is the best man for the job this year. No one brings the list of real life skills that BLACK does. DNSBLACK brings an exemplary work ethic to everything he sets out to do, in game and real life, that allows for nothing less than excellence. There is no other person that has thrown their name in the hat this year with more passion, conviction, drive and integrity than BLACK. Take my word that you can sleep, knowing that DNSBLACK's goal as a CSM is not to maintain the status quo or shilly-shally around with CCP when they decide to pursue some Icelandic madness. BLACK is the one candidate this year that you can be sure is not going to place his alliance or coalition's stature within the game before the well being of EVE as a whole. He is going to ask the hard questions and make sure that the voice of the players, from Hi to Low, Null to K-Space, is heard by the management and employees of CCP.